Would you send reception child to school today ? Illness related

[savetheday]

My threshold for illness and sending my child to nursery has always been very low. So any slight issue, I tend to keep her home.

She's started school now and her brother has had a fever for a few days. She woke up today and I took her temperature at 38. I told her she may not be able to go to school today and she was distraught because she's going to miss her friends, bless her.

Anyway, she's downstairs now and the temp seems to have come down on its own at around 37.4, some times 37.7.

In my opinion, she should not go in today.

What would you do ?

As I said, my usual threshold is low but I understand that now she's at school - she'll sometimes need to go in even with a sore throat or something but I draw the line at waking up with a fever ? To me that means she's not well and coming down with something.

She says she doesn't have pain anywhere.

She's in reception and going on a trip and swimming already? Blimey!

@longapple feels fine, warm straight out of bed - not really a fever. I'd be more concerned about how warm her bed is to be honest

What am I reading? Of course you should keep her off. 38 degrees is a fever (you cannot get that high from 'being under a duvet), it would be completely irresponsible to send her in and infect another child, especially one who might suffer more.

You absolutely did the right thing and should keep her off for at least 24 hours.

being too warm in bed makes you sweaty and kick the covers off. When you have a fever your body stops you sweating as it is trying to raise your temperature. if they're hot and not sweaty it's a fever.

brother with a fever all week, temperature of 38 say 'she caught what he's had' to me. Most kids that are contagious but not feeling like utter death will say they're fine if they want to go on a fun trip.

@longapple take your temperature in bed and then when you've got out of bed, they do say not to measure your temperature when in bed etc., as it will elevate it!

I think that's because it's usually lower when you're sleeping.
I know what my child's skin feels like when he has a fever and he has never felt that temperature when he's cosy in bed.

She wants to go to school and has no symptoms!!
why are you so desperate to keep her at home?!

@longapple not it's because you'll be warmer.

OP's child is fine. Keeping her off school for a temperature of 37.7 is utter madness

Sadly from this thread it is the parent's fault. People are completely misinformed - the most infectious part of a virus is at the start, especially if it's Covid. The girl is currently highly infectious and has been sent to school for what? To save face on Mumsnet?

It's not just about the child but the other children around them. It would be annoying but I would never send a child with a 38 degree temperature around other children within 24 hours. Unless a child is a baby, they can regulate their temperature, so 38 degrees will not be caused by their normal bedding.

Because sending ill children into school is downright selfish.

I personally wouldn't take her to school, I'd wait and see how she progresses today. If she's been having a temperature on and off since thursday, I think rest will make her good. I'd take her back to school (if she feels fine ofc) after being 24h free of fever.
I just want to add, I find your threshold for illness of your children perfect: children need rest and care and it should be their right to do so at home. Also, for the sake of other children, to avoid spreading illness.
I hope she gets well soon 💐

She doesn't have a temp and is perfectly well- is the 'highly infectious' part in the room with us?

Thank you !!!! 38 is a temp and would not be caused from a duvet.

38

@Sendwineandchocolate 38 in bed, 37.7 when out of bed.

I totally agree. And not just your child and the other children, but all their families as well as the teachers and their families.

The only person served well by sending in a child who is unwell is that child’s parent, who gets to offload their own probably contagious but definitely under the weather child onto everyone else, instead of wearing the inconvenience and responsibility themself.

I knew a mum at nursery who used to crow on and on that her Dc had “ never missed a day.” The rest of us were all clenching our teeth and biting our tongues when she did this, as we had all had our Dc catch numerous things from this notorious, snotty nosed little superspreader.

Most of the responses on here beautifully explain why my child is always coming home with yet another virus.

It's selfish. Keep them home when unwell. Not everyone wants their whole household infected too. That includes a temperature.

it doesn’t matter.

And some families have vulnerable people.

A temperature is the body’s signal it is fighting something.

I actually think some players are being quite mean.

OP, this is your child - trust YOUR instincts.

Keep them home when they're unwell, yes. Not when they have a mild temp and no other symptoms. I find children often get a bit of a temp when their body is fighting off a virus, and that virus often then gets fought off and the child is right as rain.

If people kept their children off every time the thermometer said their temp was above 37.5, the school absence issue would be much worse, and the fines much more severe.

Also as a PP pointed out, how reliable are the digital thermometers you can buy on Amazon and the likes these days? Plus there's always the risk of user error. I can take my child's temp twice in one minute and it can be significantly different.

In fairness I don’t think that much variation is normal. Our thermometer isn’t an extraordinarily expensive one, but it is pretty consistent.

With respect, that sounds a bit like grasping at straws to ignore the reading it gives.

Totally agree I would never send mine in with a high temperature and you are correct, it’s probably the most contagious stage x

@Calliopespa I don't have any cause to grasp at straws - I have no skin in this game. I'm just saying that their reliability varies, and making a decision purely on the basis of what the thermometer says it's not particularly robust.

Do you take your children's temperature every morning then?
We don't own a thermometer. If my children are ill they stay at home, if they are well they go to school.